Butch was showing off his muscles again.  Any opportunity, then out came the muscles for everyone to see.  How boring!  Not that Horace realised this (for that was Butch’s real name).  He was so taken up with himself that nobody else's opinion mattered.  And woe betide you if you called him "Horace"  A bashing was yours for the asking!

Anyway it was holiday time and Butch was going hiking into the mountains with his class.  The first day’s hike went well, except that Butch kept on rushing ahead of everybody to show how tough he was.  "Come on you slobs," he jeered, "If only you were tough like me!"

Next day, as they set off, their leader warned everybody to keep away from the steep drop.  "Sissies!" jeered Butch, "Just watch how brave and strong I am."  And with that he began to walk along the very edge of the path.   "O-o-o-h," exclaimed some of the children, "You'll fall if you don't look out!"  Butch puffed his chest out, "Never," he boasted, "Run off and play little rats."  The children walked off in a huff and disappeared around the path as it twisted round the mountain side.

"Wait for me!" yelled Butch.  But, just then his foot slipped and he found himself sliding down the steep drop!  "Help!" he yelled.   But it was too late!  His fingers just skidded through the loose gravel.  "It's the end," he thought as he tumbled and bumped into rocks and landed with a thud on a small shelf of rock.

He roared as pain speared through his leg and to his horror he found two ends of bone sticking out.  "My leg!" he yelled, "It's broken!"   He looked up and nearly fainted when he saw how the rock above him hid the path where they had been walking.  "They'll never find me now," he cried, "I’m on a ledge and they won't see me!"  In terror he called for help, but no one answered.

Butch kept on calling until the sun set in a fiery ball of crimson.  Butch started to shiver as shock set in, "I going to die either from cold or hunger!"  As he lay there, darkness fell over the mountain.  Butch looked up at the stars and started to think about what his leader had said at the camp fire the previous night.  "Look up at the stars," the leader began, "The Bible tells us in Psalm 19:1, that God created the heavens and named all the stars one by one.

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of His hands."

"Oh, God," murmured Butch, "Are You really up there?  Our leader says You are a Great Big God.  I don't want to die here.  I'm sorry that I was such a pig to all the children.  Will You please help me?"

While he was praying, he heard a faint call, "Butch!"  It echoed in the distance, but his hopes started to rise as torch light flickered over the mountain slopes coming nearer and nearer.  Soon he heard voices on the path above him and he tried to call out.  But only a faint croak came out.  Just as he gave up, a voice called, "Butch?   Is that you?"

"Yes," gasped Butch, "I'm on a ledge of rock below you and my leg is broken.  The children gathered above Butch and discussed how they could rescue him.  "We can't do it," said the leader, "We need ropes.  Neal and Ryan, go down the mountain to the Ranger's house and ask him to phone for paramedics and rescue equipment.

Butch felt relieved when he heard the sound of sirens.  "Hang on Butch," shouted the children, "We'll soon have you rescued!"  The paramedics let down a stretcher and splinted Butch's leg and hauled him to safety.

As Butch lay in hospital, he thought of how God had answered his prayer.   He closed his eyes and asked Jesus to make him into a child of God and come into his heart.  "Make me new, Jesus," he whispered, "I have been a real beast to everybody."

Later that week his class came and visited him.  They were amazed to find a different person from the old tough Butch.  "What's happened to you?" they asked.  "God gave me a miracle when you found me," replied Butch, "And Jesus has come into my heart!

Jesus changed Butch into a kind and helpful boy.  His class were very thankful and made friends with him.  But, one thing did not change.  "Don't ever call me Horace," scowled Butch, "If you want to be my friend, then call me Butch!"  And so they all did - even his teachers and parents!

What about you?  Have you looked up at the stars and thought of the wonderful glory of God?  Are you going to be like Butch, and ask Jesus to come into your heart as your Saviour and Best Friend?  Jesus is waiting for your call right now!

God bless.